Egg-case.



. W. E. SMITH.

EGG CASE. APPLICATION FILED JAN-4, i916.

Patented Feb. 27, 1917. 2 SHEETS-SHEET l W @lf I mm s Psfsns m. Puomurmx. WASHING Wit/yum W. E. SMITH.

EGG CASE.

7 APPLICATION FILED JAN-4| l9l6-- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

QFFIC.

WILLIAM E. SMITH, OF SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

EGG-CASE.

Application filed January 4, 1916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Plainfield, in the county of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Egg-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in egg cases designed particularly with a view to permitting the economical handling of eggs particularly in their transportation.

As is well known there is an immense annual loss incident to'breakage in the transportation and handling of eggs, which loss is largelyresultant from imperfect packing, either through imperfect cases, or imperfect containers for the eggs within the case. The present invention is designed to obviate to a material degree this loss incident to breakage and providing a packing case designed particularly to support the eggs so that they can be readily and conveniently handled in bulk without liability of breakage in such handling. The case of this invention is designed to provide cushion seats above and below the eggs to protect against jars, 1s also designed to provide a filler reinforced against lengthwise or sidewise crushing and an outer case constructed particularly for ventilation and reinforced in a manner to prevent crushing effect by superimposed cases or adjacent cases, the invention also comprehending a means for fastening the cover or top of the case in place.

The invention in the preferred form of details will be described in the following specification, reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved case.

Fig. 2 is a same.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the same.

Fig. 4c is a plan view of the filler.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the cushion.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail illustrating the fastening means.

In constructing the improved box I provide a rectangular casing including a bottom 1, side walls 2 and end walls 3, said box is constructed of any desired material and of appropriate size, for the purpose, the frame preferably including corner posts 4. As is usual in egg cases the box thus prolongitudinal section of the vided is divided longitudinally by a trans- Specification of Letters Patent.

while the end strips are 9; inch.

Patented Feb. 27, 1917.

"Serial No. 70,144.

verse partition 5 presentingtwo egg containing spaces. The specific structure of the interior of the box in each space being the same, detail description of one will suffice for both.

Consideringeach egg containing space of the case as complete in itself I arrange there- 'in frames, each frame involving end strips 6 and side strips 7. These strips are of the same width, approximately 3; of an inch, but of different heights, the side strips being approximately one-half inch in height The frames thus provided are rectangular 'occupying'approximately the full interior edge outline of the egg space. The. frame is made up so that the upper surface of the respective strips are in the same plane, strips which are of less height present an appreciable space below them, as shown at 8 in Fig. 2. On the lowermost frame thus provided is arranged a cushion 9, which may be solid or formed with openings for ventilation, which cushion is of ordinary flat form and may be constructed of cardboard or any material which provides suflicient elasticity for the purpose. On the bottom cushion 9 is arranged the egg fillers in superimposedrelation. These fillers 10 are of-usual form except that the center strips 11 from both sides of-the filler and the four corner strips 22 are constructed of materially heavier card-board than the remaining strips. These center strips and end strips act as reinforcements against end-wise or side-wise crushing of the filler.

lVhen the appropriate number of fillers have been placed in the egg space, an upper cushion is appliedunder a frame similar to the one previously described, thus arranging the eggs between cushions, and effectively protects thetop and bottom layers of;eggs, it being obviously impossible that any jar imparted to the bottom or cover of the case will be transmitted directly to the eggs.

To the bottom of the casing is secured trans 'erse strips 12 which extend in alinement with the end walls 3 of the case pro jecting, however, a slight distance beyond the sidewalls as at 13. These strips act as protectors and supporting strips for the case, it being obvious that from their position they will rest upon the corner-post of the n xt lowest case when the cases are superimposed and thus form a positive avoidance of a possible crushing effect on the botso that the end tom or top of the case. Furthermore the projecting ends 13 space adjacent cases so that ventilating space is provided and additionally direct contact between the side walls of the case prevented in order to avoid crushing action in this direction. Again the use of supporting strips 12 spaces the bottom edge of the side walls from the surface on which the box may be rested, thereby facilitating the lifting of the box, either by hand or the usual hand truck and avoiding the rough handling to which the case is usually subjected in this operation.

The box is provided with a cover 14 and 1 provide a means for securing the cover in place. To this end ll secure to the end walls of the box longitudinally extending strips 15 which have their upper surface in. the plane of the top of the cover, the ends of these strips projecting beyond the side walls 2 as at 16. I also secure to the side walls 2 at points intermediate their lengths short broken-like members 17 with their upper surfaces flush with the top of the cover. In each of the strips 15 and 17 I arrange a locking means including an approximately 2- shaped metallic fastener 18 having a vertical portion 19 which is rotatably supported in an opening in the respective strip, with the upper and lower lateral sections 20 and 21 projecting in the same general plane but in opposite directions from the section 19. As arranged in each strip the fastener extends therethrough so that the upper section 20 and lower section 21 are disposed at opposite sides of the strip or block. By an obvi ous turning operation of the fastener it is at once apparent that the top may be fixedly secured in place or freed for removal by an extremely simple operation, the bearing of the section 20 upon the top and the frictional engagement of the section 21 beneath the strip or block serving to prevent accidental displacement of the fixture. In addition to holding the fasteners, the end strips 15 serve to space the boxes from adjacent boxes while through and projecting portions 16 aid the side-wise spacing heretofore described in connection with the bottom strips 12.

As thus described it will be obvious that the improved egg case provides a flat means for effectively protecting the eggs against breaking during transportation either from the jar or adjacent boxes, superimposed boxes, or the handling necessary from the time they are packed until they are open for sale. All parts of the box are capable of continual reuse until destroyed, and a very important and essential feature resides in the ventilation, it being apparent from the cushion supporting frames there is provided beneath the end pieces a space for free access of the air and that the full height of the cushion supporting frame presents an air space below the cushion plate proper to which the air has free access. Furthermore by reason of the projecting portions of the strips 12 and 15 there is also maintained a space between adjacent and superimposed boxes which insures a current of air through and around each case.

What is claimed is:

1. A case including end walls and a cover, strips secured to the end walls with the upper surfaces flush with the cover, said strips projecting beyond the side walls, and means carried between said strips and case and adapted. to be turned to overlie and engage the cover.

2. An egg case formed to provide an egg space, a cushion supporting frame arranged loosely within said space and formed of strips of unequal thickness disposed with their upper surfaces in the same plane.

3. An egg case formed to provide an egg space, a cushion supporting frame arranged within said space and a cushion plate loosely supported on said frame, said frame supporting the cushion plate above the adjacent wall of the space to provide an air chamber, and being in part cut away to provide air inlets to such air chamber.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM E. Slilllil. lVitnesscs N M. C. DUNHAM, DAVID M. RUNYON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

